Dorothy Rungeling fonds, 1911-2011
Dorothy Rungeling was born in 1911 and raised in Fenwick, Ontario, by her adopted mother Ethelwyn Wetherald. Dorothy pursued many interests, learning to play the violin, saxophone and clarinet. In the early 1940s, she developed a passion for horses. Dorothy taught riding at the Welland Riding Club, as well as judging at horse shows. By the late 1940s, her interest in horses was waning, but she soon discovered and pursued a new interest: flying. She joined the Welland Flying Club, obtained a flying licence, and in 1949, purchased her first plane. She proceeded to obtain a Commercial Pilot Licence in 1951, an Instructor’s Licence in 1953, and a Senior Commercial Licence in 1954.
She participated in many air races in the 1950s, including the All Women’s International Air Races, the Women’s Transcontinental Air Races, and the Canadian Governor-General’s Cup Air Race. Some of the most notable races were the 1954 International Air Race, where Dorothy met with President Batista of Cuba, and the Governor-General’s Cup Air Race, where she won 1st place in 1953 and 1956 (and was the only woman competing). In 1958, she was also the first Canadian woman to pilot a helicopter solo. That same year, she obtained her Airline Transport Licence. She also wrote several articles on aviation, contributing to publications such as Canadian Aviation and Air Facts, a U.S. aviation magazine. In addition to these articles, Dorothy authored several books about her life, as well as a selection of poems and articles by Ethelwyn Wetherald. Dorothy's life and pursuits are examined in greater detail in this exhibit.
Some of the material in this collection has been digitized and is available in the Digital Repository.
